Discovering Immigrant Origins

​The Historical Society of Plainfield will host a lecture entitled “DiscoveringImmigrant Origins” on Sunday, January 28, 2018, starting at 2:00 PM at the Drake House Museum. Thelecture will be given by Melissa A. Johnson, CG, of Johnson Genealogy Services, LLC, from Middletown, NewJersey.Ms. Johnson says: “Immigrants played an important role in American history and genealogy. Earlyimmigration brought English colonists to New England and years later, a wave of European immigration hitNew York City. Many of these immigrants eventually settled in New Jersey, and some remained forgenerations.” Learn about records and strategies to help discover the origins of immigrants who came to theUnited States during various periods of time. This lecture will cover immigration, naturalization, and alienrecords as well as other records sets and strategies for studying groups to identify immigrant origins.Melissa A. Johnson, CG, is a professional genealogist specializing in genealogical research, lecturing, writing,editing, and publishing. She has expertise in researching families with origins in New Jersey, New York,Pennsylvania and the British Isles. Ms. Johnson has extensively researched the families of many of NewJersey’s first settlers, including those from Newark and Elizabeth(town). She has worked in several projects fortelevision shows, including Genealogy Roadshow, and Spoorloos, a popular Dutch television series focused onreuniting long-lost relatives. She has assisted many researchers with dual citizenship matters and lineagesociety memberships. She is also proficient in using DNA test results to break through ancestral brick wallsand assists adoptee and others with unknown parentage.This history and education program, “Discovering Immigrant Origins,” is made possible in part by a 2017HEART (History, Education, Arts, Reaching Thousands) Grant from the Union County Board of ChosenFreeholders.This program is also made possible by the Historical Society of Plainfield/Drake House Museum. Seating islimited and is on a first-come first-serve basis. Light refreshments will be served. Members: free and non-members: donations are always appreciated.

2017 Annual Tree Lighting

Due to the record number of visitor and safety concerns, the Historical Society of Plainfield is introducing timed entry ticket reservations for the Annual Tree Lighting. Timed tickets will help us make your visit more enjoyable, giving you the time and leisure to enjoy the event in a more relaxed environment. Please come to the Holiday Craft even on Sunday, December 3, 2017, starting at 2pm. Enjoy craft making, storytelling, and make reservations for the Annual Tree Lighting. Timed tickets are free and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis on Sunday, December 3, 2017, in person at the Drake House Museum. Tickets are limited and are only available in person. Only scheduled timed tickets will be allowed entry to the Annual Tree Lighting. Please plan on arriving approximately 5 minutes prior to your scheduled time. Each ticket group is allowed 30 minutes for the visit.

Centennial of World War One

Photo: Ernest Brooks

From 2013 to 2019, the World War One Centennial Commission will commemorate the centennial of the Great War, also known as "the War to end all wars."

The Historical Society of Plainfield will participate in the commemoration of World War One by helping the World War One Centennial Commission identify the monuments located within the City limits that are dedicated to World War One and its veterans.

The City of Plainfield has a number of World War One monuments including: Plainfield Veterans' Memorial Monument, World War plaque at the steps of City Hall, World War One Honor Roll tablet located inside City Hall, flagpole monument on Watchung Avenue, flagpole monument at St. Mary's Church, memorial tablet located inside Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, and Plainfield High School memorial tablet. It is interesting to note that the War Memorial Flagpole monument at Watchung Avenue is listed in the Archives and Special Collections, Smithsonian American Art Museum. The artist was Gaetano Cecere (1894-1985).

The Historical Society is requesting the assistance of the Public to identify any other World War One monuments or memorial tablets that may be located at churches, parks, or other places. Pictures will be taken and descriptions will be written, and then submitted to the World War One Centennial Commission. If you know of any other World War One monuments or tablets, please supply your information to the Drake House Museum drakehouseplainfieldnj@gmail.com or call (908) 755-5831.

The Historical Society is planning a future exhibit about World War One and the impact of the War on the City. Plainfield lost a number of young men, and the Historical Society has a notebook which contains information about 45 of these casualties of war. Former Mayor Leighton Calkins lost his only son. Many of these men died from the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919, and the City of Plainfield also suffered great losses from the Influenza Pandemic. One of Plainfield's World War One surviving veterans was Evarts Tracy, the pioneering camouflage officer of the World War One. Tracy was also a member of the architectural firm that designed the 1903 buildings of Muhlenberg Hospital.